IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,041,708
Granted Patent B2
US 10,041,708 · App. 14/542,095 · Granted Aug 7, 2018

Heat pump and method for pumping heat in a free cooling mode

Inventors: Holger Sedlak (Sauerlach, DE); Oliver Kniffler (Sauerlach, DE)
Assignee: Efficient Energy GmbH
F25B30/02F25B1/005F25B13/00F25B25/005H05K7/20F24H4/00F25B2339/047F25B2400/06F25B2700/2106Y02B30/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,041,708
App. No.
14/542,095
Granted
Aug 7, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A heat pump includes an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet; a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator; and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser includes a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, wherein the evaporator inlet is connected to a return from a region to be heated, and wherein the condenser inlet is connected to a return from a region to be cooled.

Claims (143)

1. A heat pump, comprising:

an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet;

a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator; and

a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet,

wherein the evaporator inlet is connected to a return from a region to be heated, and wherein the condenser inlet is connected to a return from a region to be cooled; and

a switch for separating the evaporator inlet from the return from the region to be heated and for connecting the return from the region to be cooled to the evaporator inlet; and for separating the condenser inlet from the return from the region to be cooled and for connecting the return from the region to be heated to the condenser inlet.

2. The heat pump according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first changeover switch whose input is coupled to the return of the region to be cooled;

a second changeover switch whose output is coupled to the evaporator inlet;

a third changeover switch whose output is coupled to the condenser inlet, and

a fourth changeover switch whose input is coupled to the return of the region to be heated.

3. The heat pump according to claim 2 ,

wherein a first output of the first changeover switch is connected to a first input of the third changeover switch,

wherein a second output of the first changeover switch is coupled to a first input of the second changeover switch,

wherein a second input of the third changeover switch is coupled to a first input of the fourth changeover switch, and

wherein a second input of the second changeover switch is coupled to a second output of the fourth changeover switch.

4. The heat pump according to claim 1 ,

wherein the evaporator outlet is connected to a forward to the region to be cooled, and

wherein the condenser outlet is coupled to a forward to the region to be heated.

5. The heat pump according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first heat exchanger allocated to the region to be cooled, wherein the return from the region to be cooled is connected to a first terminal of the first heat exchanger, and wherein the second terminal of the first heat exchanger is connected to the evaporator outlet.

6. The heat pump according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a second heat exchanger allocated to the region to be heated, wherein a first terminal of the second heat exchanger is connected to the return from the region to be heated, and wherein the second terminal of the second heat exchanger is connected to the condenser outlet.

7. The heat pump according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a control for reconfiguring the heat pump from a free cooling mode to a normal operating mode,

wherein the control is implemented to provide a diversion of the return from the region to be heated and the return from the region to be cooled.

8. The heat pump according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control is implemented to operate the switch.

9. The heat pump according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a provider for providing an ambient temperature of the region to be heated, wherein a control is implemented to reconfigurate, depending on the ambient temperature of the region to be heated, the heat pump from a free cooling mode into a normal operating mode or from the normal operating mode into the free cooling mode.

10. The heat pump according to claim 1 ,

wherein the return from the region to be heated comprises a pipe connected to the evaporator inlet in a liquid-tight and pressure-tight manner, and

wherein the return from the region to be cooled comprises a pipe connected to the condenser inlet in a liquid-tight and pressure-tight manner.

11. The heat pump according to claim 1 ,

wherein the heat pump comprises several interconnected heat pump units, wherein each heat pump unit comprises an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser.

12. The heat pump according to claim 1 ,

wherein the operating liquid is water and the evaporator is implemented to exhibit a negative pressure so that the water evaporates at a temperature of less than 25° Celsius.

13. A method for pumping heat with a heat pump comprising an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator, and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, comprising:

introducing operating liquid from a return from a region to be heated into the evaporator inlet;

introducing operating liquid from a return from a region to be cooled into the condenser inlet;

separating the evaporator inlet from the return from the region to be heated;

connecting the return from the region to be cooled to the evaporator inlet;

separating the condenser inlet from the return of the region to be cooled; and

connecting the return from the region to be heated to the condenser inlet.

14. A method for producing a heat pump, comprising:

providing an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator; and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet;

connecting the evaporator inlet to a return from a region to be heated; and

connecting the condenser inlet to a return from a region to be cooled;

providing a switch for separating the evaporator inlet from the return from the region to be heated; for connecting the return from the region to be cooled to the evaporator inlet; for separating the condenser inlet from the return of the region to be cooled; and for connecting the return from the region to be heated to the condenser inlet.

15. A heat pump, comprising:

an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet;

a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator;

a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet,

wherein the evaporator inlet is connected to a return from a region to be heated, wherein the condenser inlet is connected to a return from a region to be cooled; and

wherein the evaporator outlet is connected to a forward to the region to be cooled, and wherein the condenser outlet is coupled to a forward to the region to be heated.

16. A heat pump, comprising:

an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet;

a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator;

a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet,

wherein the evaporator inlet is connected to a return from a region to be heated, and wherein the condenser inlet is connected to a return from a region to be cooled; and

a first heat exchanger allocated to the region to be cooled, wherein the return from the region to be cooled is connected to a first terminal of the first heat exchanger, and wherein the second terminal of the first heat exchanger is connected to the evaporator outlet; or

a second heat exchanger allocated to the region to be heated, wherein a first terminal of the second heat exchanger is connected to the return from the region to be heated, and wherein the second terminal of the second heat exchanger is connected to the condenser outlet.

17. A heat pump, comprising:

an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet;

a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator;

a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet,

wherein the evaporator inlet is connected to a return from a region to be heated, and wherein the condenser inlet is connected to a return from a region to be cooled; and

a control for reconfiguring the heat pump from a free cooling mode to a normal operating mode,

wherein the control is implemented to provide a diversion of the return from the region to be heated and the return from the region to be cooled.

18. A heat pump, comprising:

an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet;

a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator;

a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet,

wherein the evaporator inlet is connected to a return from a region to be heated, and wherein the condenser inlet is connected to a return from a region to be cooled; and

a provider for providing an ambient temperature of the region to be heated, wherein a control is implemented to reconfigure, depending on the ambient temperature of the region to be heated, the heat pump from a free cooling mode into a normal operating mode or from the normal operating mode into the free cooling mode.

19. A heat pump, comprising:

an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet;

a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator;

a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet,

wherein the evaporator inlet is connected to a return from a region to be heated, and wherein the condenser inlet is connected to a return from a region to be cooled; and

wherein the return from the region to be heated comprises a pipe connected to the evaporator inlet in a liquid-tight and pressure-tight manner, and wherein the return from the region to be cooled comprises a pipe connected to the condenser inlet in a liquid-tight and pressure-tight manner, or

wherein the heat pump comprises several interconnected heat pump units, wherein each heat pump unit comprises an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser, or

wherein the operating liquid is water and the evaporator is implemented to exhibit a negative pressure so that the water evaporates at a temperature of less than 25° Celsius.

20. A heat pump system, comprising:

a region to be heated with a return from the region to be heated;

a region to be cooled with a return from the region to be cooled; and

a heat pump according to any one of the claims 1 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 .

21. The heat pump according to claim 18 ,

wherein the control is implemented to configure the heat pump into the free cooling mode at a temperature of less than or equal to 20° Celsius in the region to be heated, or to configure the heat pump into the normal operating mode at an ambient temperature of more than or equal to 15° Celsius.

22. A method for pumping heat with a heat pump comprising an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator, and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, the method comprising:

introducing operating liquid from a return from a region to be heated into the evaporator inlet; and

introducing operating liquid from a return from a region to be cooled into the condenser inlet;

wherein the evaporator outlet is connected to a forward to the region to be cooled, and wherein the condenser outlet is coupled to a forward to the region to be heated.

23. A method for pumping heat with a heat pump comprising an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator, and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, the method comprising:

introducing operating liquid from a return from a region to be heated into the evaporator inlet; and

introducing operating liquid from a return from a region to be cooled into the condenser inlet;

wherein the heat pump further comprises a first heat exchanger allocated to the region to be cooled, wherein the return from the region to be cooled is connected to a first terminal of the first heat exchanger, and wherein the second terminal of the first heat exchanger is connected to the evaporator outlet; or

wherein the heat pump further comprises a second heat exchanger allocated to the region to be heated, wherein a first terminal of the second heat exchanger is connected to the return from the region to be heated, and wherein the second terminal of the second heat exchanger is connected to the condenser outlet.

24. A method for pumping heat with a heat pump comprising an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator, and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, the method comprising:

introducing operating liquid from a return from a region to be heated into the evaporator inlet;

introducing operating liquid from a return from a region to be cooled into the condenser inlet; and

reconfiguring the heat pump from a free cooling mode to a normal operating mode, wherein the reconfiguring comprises providing a diversion of the return from the region to be heated and the return from the region to be cooled.

25. A method for pumping heat with a heat pump comprising an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator, and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, the method comprising:

introducing operating liquid from a return from a region to be heated into the evaporator inlet;

introducing operating liquid from a return from a region to be cooled into the condenser inlet;

providing an ambient temperature of the region to be heated, and

reconfiguring, depending on the ambient temperature of the region to be heated, the heat pump from a free cooling mode into a normal operating mode or from the normal operating mode into the free cooling mode.

26. A method for pumping heat with a heat pump comprising an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator, and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, the method comprising:

introducing operating liquid from a return from a region to be heated into the evaporator inlet; and

introducing operating liquid from a return from a region to be cooled into the condenser inlet;

wherein the return from the region to be heated comprises a pipe connected to the evaporator inlet in a liquid-tight and pressure-tight manner, and wherein the return from the region to be cooled comprises a pipe connected to the condenser inlet in a liquid-tight and pressure-tight manner, or

wherein the heat pump comprises several interconnected heat pump units, wherein each heat pump unit comprises an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser, or

wherein the operating liquid is water and the evaporator is implemented to exhibit a negative pressure so that the water evaporates at a temperature of less than 25° Celsius.

27. A method for producing a heat pump, comprising:

providing an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator; and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet;

connecting the evaporator inlet to a return from a region to be heated;

connecting the condenser inlet to a return from a region to be cooled;

connecting the evaporator outlet to a forward to the region to be cooled; and

connecting the condenser outlet to a forward to the region to be heated.

28. A method for producing a heat pump, comprising:

providing an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator; and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet;

connecting the evaporator inlet to a return from a region to be heated;

connecting the condenser inlet to a return from a region to be cooled;

coupling a first heat exchanger allocated to the region to be cooled, wherein the return from the region to be cooled is connected to a first terminal of the first heat exchanger, and wherein the second terminal of the first heat exchanger is connected to the evaporator outlet; or

coupling a second heat exchanger allocated to the region to be heated, wherein a first terminal of the second heat exchanger is connected to the return from the region to be heated, and wherein the second terminal of the second heat exchanger is connected to the condenser outlet.

29. A method for producing a heat pump, comprising:

providing an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator; and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet;

connecting the evaporator inlet to a return from a region to be heated;

connecting the condenser inlet to a return from a region to be cooled;

coupling a control for reconfiguring the heat pump from a free cooling mode to a normal operating mode,

wherein the control is implemented to provide a diversion of the return from the region to be heated and the return from the region to be cooled.

30. A method for producing a heat pump, comprising:

providing an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator; and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet;

connecting the evaporator inlet to a return from a region to be heated;

connecting the condenser inlet to a return from a region to be cooled; and

coupling a provider for providing an ambient temperature of the region to be heated, wherein a control is implemented to reconfigure, depending on the ambient temperature of the region to be heated, the heat pump from a free cooling mode into a normal operating mode or from the normal operating mode into the free cooling mode.

31. A method for producing a heat pump, comprising:

providing an evaporator with an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, a compressor for compressing operating liquid evaporated in the evaporator; and a condenser for condensing evaporated operating liquid compressed in the compressor, wherein the condenser comprises a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet;

connecting the evaporator inlet to a return from a region to be heated;

connecting the condenser inlet to a return from a region to be cooled;

wherein the return from the region to be heated comprises a pipe connected to the evaporator inlet in a liquid-tight and pressure-tight manner, and wherein the return from the region to be cooled comprises a pipe connected to the condenser inlet in a liquid-tight and pressure-tight manner, or

wherein the heat pump comprises several interconnected heat pump units, wherein each heat pump unit comprises an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser, or

wherein the operating liquid is water and the evaporator is implemented to exhibit a negative pressure so that the water evaporates at a temperature of less than 25° Celsius.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY DATA PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 066154 FRAME: 0071. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 25, 2024
From: EFFICIENT ENERGY GMBH
To: VERTIV S.R.L.
Reel/Frame 066370/0659 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2024
From: EFFICIENT ENERGY GMBH
To: VERTIV S.R.L.
Reel/Frame 066154/0071 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2015
From: SEDLAK, HOLGER; KNIFFLER, OLIVER
To: EFFICIENT ENERGY GMBH
Reel/Frame 035056/0137 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2012 208 174 · May 16, 2012 · national
Continuity (4)
Continuation PCTEP2013060064 · May 15, 2013
Provisional Application 61754338 · Jan 18, 2013
Related Publication 20150068228A1 · Mar 12, 2015
Related Publication 20180003417A9 · Jan 4, 2018
Cited By (5)
US 12,337,371 US 12,546,514 US 12,656,019 US 12,656,026 US 12,716,597